Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #110

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #110 (On Sale: March 25, 1971), has a nice cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin with Lois Lane in "Indian Death Charge" by Robert Kanigher, Werner Roth, and Vince Colletta. Lois Lane is among the onlookers who await a group of Native Americans who are scheduled to perform a rain dance. When their leader, Johnny Lone Eagle, announces that there will be no dance, the crowd is furious. Superman is forced to break up the scuffle.

Lois returns to the Native village with Johnny. She meets Singing Rain, a young mother and Johnny's sister. The Natives explain that construction workers have built a dam that will flood their village. The Natives refuse to go quietly and a confrontation ensues. Once again Superman steps in. He moves the dam to a neutral location which saves the village but satisfies the dam builders.

Later, Singing Rain is fatally injured. Her dying wish is that Lois raises her baby Little Moon. Lois returns home with the child and performs the duties of a foster mother. When she is in a car accident, she is willing to save the child at the cost of her own life. However, a man rescues Lois. He is Joseph Bright Wing, Little Moon's father. He takes custody of the child, but Lois is given an award for her role as a foster mother.

The backup story is the Rose and the Thorn in "The Face of Fate" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and Michael Esposito. The Thorn rescues Danny Stone from a group of thugs working for the 100. Stone is concerned for his sister Laura, who has fallen under the influence of Albert Talbot, one of the 100's heads. Thorn recognizes Talbot as the man responsible for the death of Selena Mason, the ghost haunting her. 

Thorn tracks down Talbot and rescues Laura. Talbot is disfigured in a fire resulting from the melee. Thorn turns him over to Stone for arrest. Selena finally has justice and disappears.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Our Fighting Forces #131

Our Fighting Forces #131 (On Sale: March 11, 1971), has a Losers cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin the issue with the Losers in "Half a Man" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and John Severin. This is the first time Severin has inked the Losers and starting the next issue he will take over the full drawing chores for the series. After two incidents involving his wooden leg, Captain Storm feels that he is only half a man. First, a grenade is tossed at him and he slips, so instead of catching it and disposing of it, he accidentally bats it at a child freedom fighter who is killed when it detonates. Second, when the Losers are on leave he meets a pretty flower seller who would like to dance and he does ok with her for a while, but then his wooden leg buckles and he takes a spill. 

He leaves the dance hall because he does not want her pity. She follows him and he sees some stonework about to give way and fall on her, but because of his wooden leg, he is too slow to reach her in time to save her from being crushed. 

The Losers are sent on an assignment to capture a mayor from an area occupied by an elite Nazi outfit. Captain Storm grabs their target and parachutes out the window, but because of the extra weight, his wooden leg shatters upon landing. The mayor tells the Losers that he ought to leave the cripple behind and let him go free. Captain Storm agrees about leaving him and orders the Losers to take the mayor to their pick-up point while he holds off the elite group in some ruins. 

Storm knows that if he opens up with his machine gun, they will finish him off fast and catch up to the Losers, so he attempts to delay them as long as possible by appealing to their fighting pride. The first underling to accept his challenge he readily defeats, but the tough guy boss tells his men to hold their fire while he roughs up Storm. Storm takes quite a beating refusing to tell where the Losers have taken the mayor, but he holds out long enough for the Losers to return and save him. Captain Storm asks them why they didn't just leave half a man behind and they tell it isn't the outside that's important but what's inside that makes a man. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Losers Vol. 1 TPB (2012).

Next is a two-page Battle Ablum on the Sherman Tank by Sam Glanzman.

We end with "The New Hand" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #64 (1957). This is an interesting idea, World War II dogfighting from the point of view of the synchronized watch on the new guy's hand. Not really much more to say about it.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

G.I. Combat #147

G.I. Combat #147 (On Sale: February 11, 1971), has a cover by Joe Kubert.

we begin with the Haunted Tank in "Rebel Tank" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. After his old commanding officer dies in combat, Jeb Stuart is reassigned to the command of Major Bragg. The major is offended that a Yankee has been given the name of a confederate general, so he orders Jeb to sit out of combat and make supply runs instead. The crew of the Haunted Tank complies, but after a while, they want to get back in the fight.

Eventually, Jeb disobeys orders and sends the Haunted Tank to Mount Abruzzi, where Major Bragg has launched an offensive. Jeb finds Bragg's tank and the others destroyed, Bragg orders Jeb to retreat, but once again he disobeys orders and attacks the Nazi position. By guiding the small tank along a mountain goat trail, the Haunted Tank is able to surprise the Nazis from behind and deliver the knock-out blow to their installation. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Haunted Tank Vol. 2 TPB (2008).

Next, we have "Sniper's Roost" by Bob Haney and Mort Drucker and reprinted from All American Men of War #71 (1959). The story of a Nazi sniper, called "The Hawk" and how he looks at his targets as toys or insects until one gets far too close. Really wonderful artwork by MAD's Mort Drucker.

That is followed by "Tin Pot Listening Post" by Bob Haney and Jerry Grandenetti and reprinted from All American Men of War #70 (1959). A young recruit is sent into the jungle to be the forward listening post for his outfit. He is so jumpy he mistakes insects, monkeys, and birds for the enemy but each such mistake brings out a real enemy that the young recruit takes care of himself.

Next up is "Broomstick Pilot" by France Herron and John Severin and reprinted from Our Army at War #69 (1958). A young co-pilot on his way to bomb a Nazi submarine pen is startled when the pilot leaves formation and drops low to the ground to avoid enemy aircraft. The pilot says they are now "broomstick pilots" as they fly on at 100 feet, running enemy planes into tension wires and poles, dodging the fire of tanks and ground artillery. They take out the submarine pen then head back home hugging the ground all the way. 

Our next tale is "Battle Window" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and MikeEsposito and reprinted from All-American Men of War #36 (1956). New recruit Terry was a window washer before the war and everything in the war reminds him of the windows he hates.

This issue ends with "Target for an Ammo Boy" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from All American Men of War #71 (1959). On a Pacific island, a recruit tags along with T.K., known by the men as Tank Killer. Everywhere they look, they find hidden tanks.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #109

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #109 (On Sale: February 4, 1971), has a nice cover by Dick Giordano.

This issue begins with Lois Lane in  "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" by Cary Bates, Werner Roth, and Vince Colletta. Lois Lane is lured into a trap by Lorraine Denison, an ex-college professor. Lana Lang was Denison's student in college. Denison blames Lois for coming between Lana and Superman, so she uses a laser to destroy the part of the brain which allows Lois to experience love. Though Denison is captured by police moments after using the device, she had enough time to complete her goal.

Lois returns to work, but she finds that she has become apathetic towards Superman, and callous in her work. But Lana Lang and Superman convince Prof. Denison to tell them how her machine functions, that it only blocks the emotions, but does not alter the brain. With the help of an actor with whom Denison was once in love, they are able to revive Lois's love-capacity. 

Meanwhile, Lana Lang states that she has given up on her love for Superman, and takes a job overseas as a European correspondent for the Galaxy Broadcasting System.

Our backup story, featuring the Rose and the Thorn,  "The Mask of Death" is by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito. A group of men, working for the 100, hijacks a truckload of medical supplies. The Thorn stops them, then returns home through a secret entrance concealed in an abandoned costume shop. Inside the shop, she encounters the ghost of Selena Mason, a former actress. 

Selena was involved with the former owner of the shop Albert Talbot, a man involved with gangsters. When she broke off their relationship, Albert threw acid in her face and left her to die. After hearing the tale, the Thorn returns to sleep as Rose Forrest but is bound to track down Talbot, even though it is 30 years since his crime was committed. This story is continued next issue.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Our Fighting Forces #130

Our Fighting Forces #130 (On Sale: January 14, 1971), has a nice Losers cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with the Losers in "Nameless Target" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito. The Losers are sent to attack Rouen Beach as part of a fake invasion force intended to draw attention away from the real target, Normandy. The plane carrying the Losers across the English Channel is shot down miles from their intended target. As the Nazis chase the soldiers across the countryside, the Losers discover a town filled with weapons and ammunition. When the fighting continues in the town, the weapons caches are hit, and they explode.

The Losers escape the town with the assistance of a Frenchman. Despite their failure to reach their assigned target, the destruction of the unnamed town proves to be a significant distraction, drawing attention away from Normandy. As a result, the real mission was a success. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Losers Vol. 1 TPB (2012).

We end with "Three Graves to Eternity" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. One night, as the men of Dog Company make their way across the African desert they come across three graves, marked by new rifles, helmets, and dog tags. As they wonder who the three men were we are taken back in time as Hank, Red, and Rooster Anderson walk across the same desert on their way to join Dog Company. They think back to their time in an orphanage and how they would not allow themselves to be separated, even if it meant not being adopted. They grow older and join the army and are thrilled to be stationed together. 

They are attacked by a big enemy patrol and fight them back, but Red is killed. Hank digs a grove for him and they bury him in the desert. As they start to move forward,  the patrol has returned, this time with a tank Hank takes out the tank with a bazooka, but is killed as he does. Rooster alone pushes back the rest. Afterward, he digs a grave for Hank and buries him. He also digs a grave for himself. Hank holds them off as best he can, but eventually he is killed by a rocket that covers him in his grave. 

Dog Company never learns who the men were, but given how well they fought, they must have been Dog Company men. A nice story that has never been reprinted.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #108

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #108 (On Sale: December 29, 1970), has a cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin with Lois Lane in "The Spectre Suitor" by Cary Bates, Werner Roth, and Vince Colletta. While Lois conducts an interview with Noel Tate, thieves break into his house. Noel and Lois interrupt the thieves and are nearly killed. They are saved by a ghost who takes a fascination with Lois. The ghost begins stalking her and causing odd behavior in her and her friends.

The phantom then causes Lois to break into Tate's home to steal a dirk which transports her back in time to the 19th century. There she realizes that the ghost is that of Jack the Ripper. Superman travels back in time to save Lois. The Ripper was Tate's relative who had fallen in love with Lois. Once back in their own time, Superman finds the dirk which allowed the ghost to manifest. It has been destroyed. This story was reprinted in Best of DC #38 (1983).

We end with The Rose and the Thorn in  "Mourn for the Thorn" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito. While the Thorn wages her personal war against the 100, the syndicate sends more killers to eliminate her. The gang succeeds by poisoning her with carbon monoxide. The Thorn's body is then put on display in a gold coffin. After the public, including Superman and Lois Lane, learn of the Thorn's death, her body is taken away for burial. When her coffin is accidentally dropped, she revives. The Thorn was only in suspended animation, a state which she entered intentionally to find additional members of the 100. She then marks five more names off her list.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Our Army at War #229

Our Army at War #229 (On Sale: December 17, 1970), has a Sgt. Rock's Prize Battle Tales cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Sgt. Rock in "The Battle of the Sergeants" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #128 (1963). Sgt. Rock joined the U.S. Army on the same day as his German counterpart Sgt. Krupp. Both men were trained by their respective militaries, then sent to North Africa.

The two Sergeants face off in the desert. Rock and Easy Company learn the location of a hidden German base. Krupp tries to destroy Rock before he can return to base and report the location. Rock and Ice Cream Soldier are the only survivors from Easy. Krupp chases Rock across the desert, leading to a struggle for Krupp's pistol. Krupp is shot and killed. Rock then carries the wounded Ice Cream Soldier out of the desert.

Next, we have "The Mouse and the Tiger" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito and reprinted from Star Spangled War Stories #73 (1958).

That is followed by "The Fighting Blip" by Bob Haney and Jack Abel and reprinted from Our Army at War #112 (1961).

Next is "Two Men -- One Hill" by Bob Haney and Mort Drucker and reprinted from Our Army at War #96 (1960).

We end with Sgt. Rock in "Surrender Ticket" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #149 (1964). As Sgt. Rock leads Easy Company to the front in North Africa, Nazi leader Colonel Von Krizt seeks to demoralize his opponents. He sends several waves of attackers against Easy Company, then drops surrender tickets, hoping that the Americans will give up the fight.

Despite their fear and great thirst, Easy Company makes it across the desert and confronts Von Krizt's forces. Instead of surrendering, Easy Company wins the fight and proves themselves in battle.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

G.I. Combat #146

G.I. Combat #146 (On Sale: December 8, 1970), has a cover by Joe Kubert. 

We start with the Haunted Tank in "Move the World" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. Jeb Stuart and the crew of the Haunted Tank are stuck in a ravine in the North African desert while two other tanks are destroyed by Nazis. When Jeb gets the tank out, they are badly outnumbered. Jeb outraces the Nazi troop carriers following him, then stops to pick up Ulysses, an infantryman. The tank then heads to Fort Solitary.

When the Haunted Tank arrives, the fort has already been destroyed. The Nazis pursuing them are close, so Jeb has his men detach the tank's turret to use as a decoy. When the Nazis arrive, they are taken by surprise from multiple directions. Jeb and his men win the battle, then reassemble the tank. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Haunted Tank Vol. 2 TPB (2008).

Our first reprint is "Hickory-Foot Soldier" by Bob Haney and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #13 (1956).

Next, we have "A Flower for the Front" by France Herron, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #5 (1955). 

That is followed by "The Secret Battle Eye" by Hank Chapman and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #66 (1962).

Next is "The Bug That Won an Island" by Bob Haney, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito and reprinted from Our Army at War #125 (1962),

We end this issue with Sgt. Rock in "Battle Tags for Easy Co." by  Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #120 (1962). Sgt. Rock calms a new recruit while under fire by telling him stories of Easy Company's past missions. He tells the soldier how Ice Cream Soldier, Bulldozer, and Wild Man each earned their nicknames. When it comes time to fight, Sgt. Rock also shows why he is called "the Rock" by standing in the face of enemy fire. The new recruit proves himself in battle, earning his own nickname, Green Apple.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #107

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #107 (On Sale: November 12, 1970), has a cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin with Lois Lane in  "The Snow-Woman Wept" by Robert Kanigher, Werner Roth, and Vince Colletta. Clark and Lois are sent to Raleigh College to cover separate stories. Lois covers the winter carnival and meets snow sculptor Norman Brooks. Meanwhile, Clark visits the lab of Professor Bridnell who has invented a device that allows animals to breathe underwater. The device is not yet ready for human trials.

When Clark leaves the lab, Bridnell's assistant Dr. Tort attacks him. Tort is working for a foreign power and is out to steal the invention. Taking a break from her own assignment, Lois stops by the lab to satisfy her own curiosity about the invention. She stumbles across Tort who turns the device upon her. Instead of allowing her to breathe underwater, it changes her body into snow.

Tort disposes of the body at the carnival by pretending it is a snow sculpture. Superman realizes it is the real Lois and stops her from melting to death. He returns to the lab. Tort uses the invention on Superman. Superman's power of invulnerability fails him in a moment of weakness, and he begins turning to snow. He is able to reverse the process on himself before it is too late. He then apprehends Tort and his co-conspirators. Using the device in reverse then returns Lois to normal.

Our back-up story is The Rose and the Thorn in "My Executioner Loves Me" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito. After the Thorn disposes of three more members of the 100, Vince Adams assigns Beau Benton to kill her. That night, Beau attacks the Thorn on a pier. She avoids his gun and tosses him into the water. The would-be killer strikes his head and is knocked unconscious. The Thorn dives into the water to pull him out.

When Benton regains consciousness, he is surprised that the Thorn saved his life despite his intentions. He decides to ignore the contract and falls in love with her. The 100 then tries to kill Benton, too. When Benton suggests that they leave the country together, Thorn appears to agree. However, she drops him off into police custody instead.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Our Fighting Forces #129

Our Fighting Forces #129 (On Sale: November 10, 1970), has a Losers cover by Joe Kubert. 

We begin with The Losers in "Ride the Nightmare" by Robert Kanigher. Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito. Johnny Cloud has been haunted by nightmares. The nightmares have caused him to react irrationally, even when wide awake. The other members of the team worry that Johnny's actions could put the team in danger. When the Losers are sent to retrieve a Polish scientist held prisoner by the Nazis, Johnny puts himself in harm's way. The other Losers protect him. 

They find the scientist, but their escape is blocked. After the scientist sacrifices his own life by falling on a grenade, Johnny goes berserk and unleashes his rage on the Nazis. He destroys an enemy missile site and in the resulting confusion, the Losers escape. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Losers Vol. 1 TPB (2012).

We end with  "Ironclad! Man Your Guns" drawn by Fred Ray. A Union soldier boy mans a battery on the Mississippi River and dreams of getting a medal from President Lincoln. He and his fellow soldiers are confronted by a Confederate ironclad attempting to break through barriers and bring supplies to the confederacy. Onboard the ironclad, a young Confederate soldier also has dreams of a Presidential medal, only from President Davis. The ironclad wreaks havoc on the Union guns and breaks through the Union lines. The young Union boy is the only survivor and he takes a rowboat and a lone explosive and rows after the ironclad. As his boat sinks, he lights the fuse and wedges the explosive to the ironclad's wooden hull but is swept up in the flow of the ironclad's prop when the bomb goes off. 

The only survivor from the ironclad is the young Confederate boy, who sees the Union boy in the water and bulls him to shore. In the end, both boys received medals from President Lincoln.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #106

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #106 (On Sale: September 24, 1970) has a cover by Murphy Anderson.

So, for you youngsters, we need a bit of history here. In 1969, the 12th most popular movie in the United States was a Swedish adult film. I can't say I have ever seen this movie, which mixed full-frontal explicit sex with burning social issues. The movie even had Dr. Martin Luther King in it. Why bring up old porn from a bygone era you ask? The move was called "I am Curious (Yellow)" and it was maybe the last film you would ever think would inspire a comic book story, even if it is just the title. It is an interesting beginning for editor E. Nelson Bridwell who takes over his first non-reprint book from the fired Mort Weisinger.

Our lead story is  "I Am Curious (Black)" by Robert Kanigher, Werner Roth and Vince Colletta. Lois Lane is assigned to write a story for the Daily Planet concerning life in Little Africa, the black section of Metropolis. When she arrives, she is met by disinterest, suspicion and outright hatred from everyone she speaks to. Lois asks Superman for help. He takes her to the Fortress of Solitude and uses a device designed by Kryptonian Dahr-Nel to change Lois from a white woman into a black one. Superman tells Lois that the transformation will only last for 24 hours.

Lois returns to Metropolis. While in the white section of town, she is treated as an outcast. When she reaches Little Africa a second time, Lois learns about life in the slums from the residents there. When neighborhood activist Dave Stevens is shot while trying to confront some drug dealers, Lois donates blood to save his life.

While waiting to see the outcome, she confronts Superman and asks if he would marry her given her current skin color. He replies that he is the complete outcast on Earth, not even human. Lois replies that while that is true he is lucky that his skin color is the correct one to be accepted on Earth. Lois then reverts to her normal appearance earlier than expected. Stevens awakens and wants to thank the sister who helped save his life and is surprised to see that Lois is actually white. However, he now accepts Lois despite their difference in skin color. This infamous tale has been reprinted in Superman in the Seventies TPB and Lois Lane: A Celebration of 75 Years HC.

Next is a two-page filler "Martha G. Kimball" a Wonder Women of History story by Julius Schwartz and John Giunta which is reprinted from Wonder Woman #53 (1952),

This issue ends with the Rose and the Thorn in "Where Do You Plant a Thorn?" by Robert Kanigher,  Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. The 100 place a contract on the Thorn. To bait her, they place a gold coffin in the chapel window. Despite the trap, the Thorn thwarts the hitmen and helps apprehend them.

The chapel owner Vince, who is secretly part of the 100, contacts florist Mr. Orchid. They put together another hit squad to target detective Danny Stone. Their plan fails when the Thorn surprises the gang and saves Danny's life.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Our Fighting Forces #128

Our Fighting Forces #128 (On Sale: September 8, 1970) has a Losers cover by Joe Kubert. 

We begin with the Losers in "7 11 War" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. It begins with Gunner throwing one 7 after another in craps and Sarge reminding them that they are all Born Losers (they still keep toying with that name).. Next it is Sarge who throws nothing but 7s and 11s.  Johnny Cloud says that when the Losers start winning, it means trouble is ahead. Each member of the Losers seems to have improved their luck. Each reflects on bad situations in their past, and they believe the bad luck will follow them wherever they go. When they are assigned to draw straws, the team assumes the worst, but instead the short straw earns a pass to travel to London with his friends.

The Losers head to London only to find it in the middle of a bombing raid. The soldiers help to rescue children from the ruins of a building, but they are unable to rescue the children's mother who is trapped. She is killed when a delayed explosion destroys what little remained of the building. The Losers head back to camp feeling that even when they get leave, it turns out to be a losing proposition. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Losers Vol. 1 TPB.

Nestled in the middle of this story is a two-page Battle Album on "Dirigible Aerial Aircraft Carriers" by Sam Glanzman.

That is followed by a U.S.S. Stevens story,  "How Many Fathoms?" by Sam Glanzman. "Ox" Swanson was a miner who lived in the mountains all his life who was fascinated by all the water in the Pacific Ocean. He was "highlined" from a carrier to the Stevens mid-ocean and could never stop wondering how many fathoms of water were under them. "Ox" was a turret captain and three days after joining the crew, the Stevens was doing some off shore shelling of Balikapan, Borneo, when the call came to start using shrapnel for target practice. When the shell man reaches for the shell, it slips and falls to the floor.. "Ox" calls for silence and everyone freezes, not knowing if the shell would go off at the end of its 20-second fuse. This was the correct call, but his men panic. Ox grabs the shell and runs for the railing, but never makes it, the shell exploding against his chest. Later he is given a burial at sea and we are left to wonder how many fathoms will he rest in.

We end with a real artistic gem. Most people know Mort Drucker from his decades at Mad Magazine, doing the movie and TV parodies, but before Mad, Mort was one of the best war comic artists in the business. "Cracker Barrel Combat" is by Bob Haney and Mort Drucker and is reprinted from G.I. Combat #63 (1958). Vic and Jerry are sitting in a  hunting cabin when their friend finds them with their feet up on a cracker barrel. Rather than go out in the cold and hunt, they prefer to be what they friend calls "cracker barrel sharpshooters." A year later they are all in Europe fighting Nazis, there friend now a Sargent and bemoaning being stuck with "cracker barrel soldiers." The boys are told to guard the outpost shack and they once again rest their feet up on a food container, in this case s metal container of tuna. When Nazis approach they have to leave the comfort of the cabin and take up positions shooting at the Nazis. A few well-placed hand grenades removes the threat and they return to the comfort of the cabin.

Not long after a German grenade flies through a window. Jerry covers the grenade with the metal tuna container and the boys flatten against the floor.. After the grenade explodes the Nazis take the cabin and wait for returning Americans. However, Vic and Jerry have survived the grenade and escaped into the woods where they attack the cabin from two sides, taking out the enemy soldiers. Once again back in the comfort of the cabin the boys are startled when a German tank shows up. They scatter to the woods and the tank follows, eventually losing one of their treads. Vic lobs a grenade at the wounded tank and removes the problem. When the Sarge returns he find the two back in the cabin and complains about them fi9ghting a "cracker barrel war."

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Action Comics #393

Action Comics #393 (On Sale: August 27, 1970) has a Superman cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson. It is hard to tell if this is an inventory issue or not as this is Murray Boltinoff's first issue as editor, taking over for the soon to be history Mort Weisinger.  

I haven't read this issue in years, but I don't recall there being a huge shift in the character or the presentation, certainly nothing like what was happening in Jimmy Olsen. We begin with "Superman Meets Super-Houdini," our 14-page cover story from Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson. Clark Kent and some fellow reporters are at the Metropolis Airport to watch "Hairbreadth" Holahan perform his death dive act. 

It looks like Holahan is too close to the ground to make an escape, so Clark plays the milquetoast and runs off so he can change into Superman. Meanwhile, Holahan's son Dan says that his dad still has 10 seconds to spare and clicks his stopwatch. Just as Superman arrives to save Holahan, the lock on his chain suddenly pops open and he's able to land safely via parachute. The crowd goes wild and Superman pretends to be stumped, but his thoughts reveal that Dan clicking his stop watch sent a hypersonic signal to the lock, causing it to open. Superman invites Holahan to do some stunts with him at a museum fundraiser the next week.

The next day two cons looking at Holahan's poster realize that he's actually Mace Larkin, another con who escaped from prison 15 years ago and got married. His wife died a few years ago, but not before giving birth to a son. That night, the cons confront Holahan and blackmail him into helping them with a scheme.

A few days later, at the fundraiser, Superman uses his heat-vision to weld Holahan into a suit of armor. Moments later, Holahan mysteriously emerges from behind a curtain, much to the amazement of Superman. After Superman inspects the armor and sees that it is still intact, Holahan and Dan leave to prepare new stunts. Suddenly an alarm goes off in the museum and it is discovered that the Star of Asia has been stolen with the lock and glass staying intact. Superman figures that only Holahan could pull off this robbery and with a quick blast of heat-vision, melts the tires of Holahan's car. After revealing that Holahan is really Larkin, Superman flies him to prison, where he is locked up in Maximum Security in a cell across from Stoney Croy, the boss of the convicts who blackmailed Larkin.

We learn that the jewel theft was a ruse to get Larkin into prison so he could then escape with Croy. Pulling out a fake molar, he uses the chemical inside to freeze the cell lock and kick the door open. Repeating the same trick on Croy's cell door, they then use old drain pipes and conduits to escape from the prison, before heading to the old state pen. Seems the cons have secretly bought it and turned it into an underworld resort. Once inside, Larkin recognizes the cons as being wanted by the FBI. This sets off Croy because Larkin wouldn't actually know who the FBI are looking for if he's really been "out of the rackets" for 15 years.

A shotgun blast to Larkin's chest reveals that he's actually Superman in disguise. While explaining that Larkin told Superman about his visit from the cons, and that they switched identities so that Croy would show him the new hideout, he swiftly knocks all of the cons out. For his assistance in helping Superman round up the hoodlums, the Governor grants Larkin a full pardon. We end with Superman flying off wishing he had a son like Dan.

Our back-up story is "The Day Superboy Became Superman!" by Leo Dorfman, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. Years ago at Metropolis University a group of students discover that the Raiders, a gang from the slums, have broken in and are using the new college pool. Clark Kent, who just happens to be nearby, ducks behind a hedge to change to Superboy. He then uses his super-breath to freeze the Raiders into a block of ice and drops them off off-campus. When he returns, Marla Harvey, one of Clark's fellow students, chastises Superboy for ruining those poor kid's fun. The next day, the Raiders steal the food from the cafeteria and take it back to the slums where others join in the "banquet." Superboy then swoops in, retrieving the food. Later, Clark sees Marla leaving the school with luggage. Turns out she's leaving the college because the school arrested the Raiders for feeding the hungry.

A few weeks later, the Raiders "borrow" several books from the university library, and take them to their new teacher, Marla Harvey. She tells them they shouldn't have, then tells them to run when she sees Superboy arrive on the scene. She reveals that she is starting a school for the slum kids in a condemned building that a demolition company is letting her use temporarily. She then explains to Superboy what life is like in the slums and that instead of helping other planets, he should become a Superman and help these people. He then returns the books and heads off on a vital mission in space. 

When he returns to talk to Marla the next day, he sees that the demolition company is tearing down the "school." Suddenly, his X-ray vision reveals that Marla is still inside the building. He's too late to save her, but before she dies she makes Superboy promise that he will help the people in the slum. He starts to build a new school for the kids when he realizes what Marla really meant. He tells the watching crowd that he could build a new school and rebuild the entire slum area, but then they would be relying on him. He suggests that they go to their mayor or councilman and fight for their future.

Months later, when the new school is completed, the school is dedicated to Superman for inspiring the improvements to the slum. Superman declines and remolds the statue to look like Marla, saying that it was all because she inspired Superboy to become a Superman. Not a bad little story.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #105

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #105 (On Sale: August 13, 1970) has a cover by Murphy Anderson. The big news this issue is found in the little blurb at the bottom of the cover. DC is introducing its third new character of the month, heck of the day.

We begin with Lois Lane in "Death House Honeymoon," a 12-page tale by  
Robert Kanigher, Artie Saaf and Mike Esposito. The 100, a criminal combine that will be around Lois Lane for many issues to come, invades Metropolis, but a mysterious female crime-fighter called The Thorn serves public notice that she will hunt them all down. Meanwhile, Johnny Adonis (nice name, if you can get it), a murderer sentenced to the chair, asks Lois Lane, whose life he once saved, for a last request: to marry him just before he is executed. 

She complies, and the two are married, but a jailbreak ensues before Johnny can be taken to the chair and Lois is taken hostage. She is later dumped in the river by the convicts where she is rescued by mysterious new crime-fighter, the Thorn and both women are saved by Superman. Johnny is killed by one of his fellow convicts while trying to defend his wife, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Adonis.

Our back-up story is the premiere of DC's newest heroine, Rose and the Thorn in "Night of the Thorn" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. After her father, Detective-Sergeant Phil Forrest, is killed in a gun-battle with the 100, Rose Forrest suffers a personality split. 

Though she feels herself normally incapable of violence, while asleep she becomes the Thorn, a costumed crime-fighter driven by her father's memory to fight and defeat the 100. She rescues Forrest's partner Danny Stone from the 100's killers, but, as Rose, does not suspect that she has become a secretary to a 100 member.

I do appreciate new characters, even if all three of them are created by Robert Kanigher. Now I'm not saying that Kanigher's writing is derivative, but two of his three new characters' shtick is that they have basically split personalities (as we will see in the next issue of All-Star Western). Now most people would not look at El Diablo and Rose and the Thorn and say, "Hey, this is the same recycled idea," but I would. I know there are a lot of things that are different between the two characters, but come on, they launched on the dame day. Hard to not notice. 

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Falling in Love #118

Falling in Love #118 (On Sale: August 6, 1970) has a nice cover by, well, certainly not Nick Cardy and Vince Colletta as some people attribute. Sure the inks are Colletta, but Cardy had nothing to do with this. Some have suggested Dick Giordano, but I don't see any Giordano on this. the band in them background reminds me more of a Ric Estrada or an Artie Saaf. Regardless of who drew it, it is kinda cool and certainly somewhat timely. 

We begin with  the eight-pager "Hate Letters to Wilma," penciled by George Tuska.

That is followed by "First Kiss," a three-pager drawn by Ross Andu and Mike Esposito. 

Next we have a seven-page reprint from Girls' Love Stories #42  entitled "No Chance at Love."  This tale from 1956 was drawn by Arthur Peddy and Bernard Sachs.

Arthur F. Peddy is not really known to most comic fans, but he had a long career, starting in 1939 writing and drawing the Waco Kid for Fox in Mystery Men Comics #1-4. Peddy then moved to Harvey and then Quality, working out of the Iger shop. At Quality he worked on such features as Don Glory, Duke O'Dowd, Hercules, Rookie Rankin, but is best remembered as the co-creator of The Phantom Lady. 

Peddy left Quality in 1942 and didn't resurface till 1947 at DC, most likely his career being interrupted by a little thing called World War II. At DC Peddy drew Doctor Mid-Nite, Black Pirate, Wildcat, Hop Harrigan and The Justice Society of America. In 1952 Peddy jumped to Marvel where he drew War and mystery stories. He worked for both DC and Marvel up till 1956, when he went back to DC full-time.

He drew War books through 1957 when he then switched full-time to romance and finished out he career at DC doing romance books till 1971. He had one more story printed after that, in Batman #238 DC published a Golden Age Atom story intended for Flash Comics #105. The unpublished work was inked by Bob Oksner.

Our book ends with our cover story  "I Found My Love at the Woodstock Festival," a ten-page tale drawn by Murphy Anderson. There is debate on this story as well, some say Anderson is only the inker, but I certainly can't tell for sure. You can read more on this story on the excellent Romance Comic Blog Sequential Crush. 

This book was edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Action Comics #392

Action Comics #392  (On Sale: July 30, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson featuring the Superman/Batman team. This is an great example of the due personality of DC at this time. The company that was brining you the Dark Knight and Deadman and Bat Lash and Green Lantern/Green Arrow was still being brought down month after month by the likes of Mort Weisinger and his ever silly "imaginary stories." Poor Superman, his sun is a klutzy loser! Yikes!

The lead off "imaginary" tale, "The Shame of the Super-Son" is the work of Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. I think the less said about it the better. Thankfully it has never been reprinted.

The back-up feature is the Legion of Super-Heroes in "The Legionnaires Who Never Were," 12 pages by Cary Bates, Winslow Mortimer and Jack Abel. Saturn Girl and Princess Projectra are sent after the space renegade Pozr-Du. After spotting his parked ship, they approach only to be blasted by the villain's ray gun. When they awake hours later, they find that Pozr and his ship are gone. They return to Legion headquarters to find their cruiser suddenly surrounded by the H.Q.'s energy-grappler. The girls are ordered to identify themselves. Confused, they comply and ask permission to land. Their request is refused, and their ship is brought to a landing dock by the energy-grappler. The heroines leave the ship only to find themselves at gunpoint, surrounded by Legionnaires.

Karate Kid says that the two of them must be crazy spies to try to infiltrate Legion Headquarters by pretending to be two Legionnaires who don't even exist. Projectra demands that they get a chance to prove that they really are Legionnaires. She takes them to the clubhouse's archive computer, which has pictures and data on all members, but discovers that Saturn Girl and Princess Projectra are not included. There are two blank slots on the board, but Karate Kid explains that they have just admitted two new members - two male members - and their data is not yet in the computer.

Next, Projectra takes the others to the Legion's Hall of Trophies, but she and Saturn Girl are upset to discover that none of their own awards are present. The two girls try to demonstrate their powers but find they no longer have them. Karate Kid presents to them the new Legionnaires, who turn out to be male versions of the heroines: Prince Projectur and Saturn Lad. The boys demonstrate the super-powers of illusion-casting and telepathy before the girls are imprisoned in the team's detention sphere.

Projectra wonders if Pozr's weapon might have caused them to have a weird but realistic dream. Saturn Girl theorizes that they have been hurled into a parallel dimension in which they don't exist. When Projectra notices that Karate Kid has left them their flightrings, she comes up with an escape plan. She and Saturn Girl use their rings to propel them in opposite directions, putting pressure on the elastic detention sphere. Finally, it snaps and the girls are free to discover what has happened to them.

Projectra asks Saturn Girl to stay in hiding while she tries something. The Princess makes her way to Karate Kid's quarters and asks him to tell her if the whole thing is a hoax. When the Kid acts distressed that an enemy spy knows his real name, she begs him to remember that he once confessed his love for her. She then kisses him. When the two part, Karate Kid turns away and tells her it was a nice try, but he doesn't know her. Before he can try to re-capture her, however, he blacks out.

Projectra had stopped by the equipment lab earlier and concocted a knockout serum that only works on Earth people and had coated her lips with it. She had also slipped a miniature device on his neck when she kissed him, which she then checks. Projectra tries to return to Saturn Girl but finds her missing; instead, she comes upon Prince Projectur.

The Princess finds that she has regained her power and creates an illusion of an alien gas-creature threatening her. When her boy double tells "Jeckie" not to panic and then races to her rescue, she drops the illusion and snatches a mask off of "Projectur" revealing Brainiac 5's face beneath. He admits that he had used a device to simulate her power. When she asks why, he tells her that the new archive computer predicted that she would break down in a time of crisis and jeopardize other members. They had to check the accuracy of the computer by putting her through a test, which she has now passed. Saturn Girl arrives, saying that she had previously only made Projectra think she had lost her power.

Sun Boy had been disguised as "Saturn Lad" and Chameleon Boy had been Pozr. They ask how she figured out she had been hoaxed and she tells them how she put a truth disc on Karate Kid's neck which indicated that he was lying. Also, Brainiac 5 had called her "Jeckie" when he thought she was in danger, a nickname only her friends would know.

Karate Kid comes up to embrace Jeckie and says that tomorrow he is going to order the new computer dismantled and repaired. Mon-El breaks in and says that he will issue the order, since it is past midnight on Karate Kid's last day in office. At a ceremony the next morning, Mon-El is sworn in as the new leader, with Element Lad as his deputy. Projectra asks Val if he is sorry he's no longer leader and he wishes he had left office a week ago so he wouldn't have had to put her
through that ordeal.

Reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 9 HC and Showcase Presents: Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 4 TPB.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Our Fighting Forces #127

Our Fighting Forces #127 (On Sale: July 9, 1970) has a Losers cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with the Losers in "Angels Over Hell's Corner" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

The back-up story is the U.S.S. Stevens in "Dragonfly" written and drawn by Sam Glanzman.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Action Comics #391

Action Comics #391 (On Sale: June 30, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with our cover-story, the imaginary tale "The Punishment of Superman's Son" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

The back-up is the Legion of Super-Heroes in "The Ordeal of Element Lad" by E. Nelson Bridwell, Winslow Mortimer and Jack Abel. This story was reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 9 HC.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

World's Finest Comics #195

World's Finest Comics #195 (On Sale: June 11, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with Superman and Batman in "Dig Now, Die Later" by Bob Haney, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. Continuing from last issue, Superman and Batman have gone undercover to gather evidence against the mob. However, a head injury suffered by Batman causes him to believe that he really is mob leader Karl Lukaz. He exposes Superman's undercover identity to the gang and uses Kryptonite to weaken his friend. To escape the situation, Superman feigns memory loss of his own. Batman, as Lukaz, then plans to use Superman against his own friends Jimmy Olsen and Robin. 

Superman lures Robin and Jimmy to a junkyard and forces them to dig their own graves. Robin makes an appeal for mercy to Batman which snaps his mind back to normal. This appears to end the threat, but the real Lukaz suddenly appears. Superman convinces him that he is still working for the criminals by killing Robin and Jimmy with his heat vision. He then hands over evidence of their deaths to Lukaz.

Superman then grabs Batman and carries him away. Then the heroes wait. Lukaz takes the evidence to his secret vault. Superman planted transmitters which lead him there. The vault contains the evidence needed to convict Lukaz and his associates. Lukaz tries to stop the heroes, but Robin and Jimmy provide a timely assist to catch the crooks. Superman didn't kill them. He swapped them out for wax figures to fool Lukaz. With the evidence in hand and the crooks apprehended, Superman and Batman have successfully shut down the mob operation. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 TPB and Showcase Presents: World's Finest Vol. 4 TPB.

The back-up features Congo Bill in "The Riddle of the Super-Zoo" by Jack Miller and Howard Sherman, reprinted from Action Comics #247. This was my first exposure to Congo Bill or Howard Sherman. Congo Bill was a long-running DC adventure strip, reminiscent of Alex Raymond's Jungle Jim newspaper strip. Debuting in More Fun Comics #56, the strip was a moderate success and ran there until issue #67, afterwards moving to Action Comics with issue #37. Action Comics #191 added Janu the Jungle Boy, a young boy brought up in the jungle after his father had been killed by a tiger. In 1954, DC published seven issues of Congo Bill. Congo Bill encountered the legendary golden gorilla in Action Comics #224 and was transformed into Congorilla and the title of the strip was likewise changed. The Congorilla series ran in Action Comics and Adventure Comics from 1959 to 1961.

Howard Sherman began his career doing pulp illustrations and cover paintings and moved to DC Comics in 1940, co-crating Dr. Fate with Gardner Fox. He would stay on Dr. Fate for the next three years. He also drew Slam Brady for nine years (1940-1949), the Wyoming Kid (1949 to 1960) and Congo Bill (1956-1961). He pulled stints on the Justice Society of America, Vigilante, Kit Carson, Batman, Tomahawk and many others before leaving comics in 1961 to enter the advertising field.

This story revolves around "Jungle Joe" scamming some rich Americans on safari into paying exorbitant fees to purchase supposedly smart animals. The animal acts are all frauds and when the buyers find out, Congo Bill and Janu scam Joe back with a meteor that supposedly makes animals smart in order to get the people's money back. 

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Unexpected #120

Unexpected #120 (On Sale: June 4, 1970) has a cover by Nick Cardy.

We begin with "Rambeau's Revenge" by Carl Wessler and George Tuska. A disfigured teenager uses voodoo to take revenge on classmates who taunted him by disfiguring their looks using acid and voodoo dolls. When they approach his cabin to take revenge, he panics and spills acid on the figurine that he had made of himself, removing his facial features altogether. Note: Sylvester Stallone is not in this story, despite the name.

Next is "The Gravediggers" by Carl Wessler, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. Jim Marlowe is always playing mean practical jokes on his friends. When they finally turn the tables on him, playing a huge joke wherein he thinks they are going to kill him, he goes insane. Not really much of a story here, but I never expected much from The Unexpected.

That is followed by "Once Upon a Killer," also by Carl Wessler and George Tuska. Fugitive killer Rud Harlow stumbles out of the Arizona desert looking for water. He finds a ranch and when the owner refuses to show him where the water is he kills him.  Out back he finds a water hole and drinks deeply before realizing the hole is poisoned and that he had killed the old rancher before he could warn him.

We end with  "Haunted House Do Not Disturb" by George Kashdan and Jerry Grandenetti. With the best artwork in this issue, we see Martin and Wilma visiting the old English Frumley Castle and are invited, for an extra fee to spend the night in the castle and meet the ghost that haunts it. Martin is all for it and a reluctant Wilma accompanies him. The lord of the castle warns them not to disturb the ghost if they see it, but when a ghost appears at midnight, Martine chases after it, only to be trapped in the castle tower by the ghost.

He begs the ghost not to hurt him and the ghost replies that he is a ghost and incapable of hurting him. The ghost is the Earl of Meacham, the original and true owner of the castle. The first Lord Frumley was his cousin and stayed with him in the castle, but he was also Meacham's murderer, who forged a deed to the property and stole the castle from his family. The real deed has been hidden for centuries and the ghost has waited patiently for someone to help retrieve it. Wilma has awakened Lord Frumley to help look for Martin, but Frumley has other ideas. 

He has waited for someone to do the ghost's bidding so he can finally destroy the real deed. Martin meets up with Wilma and together they recover the real deed from the castle graveyard. Frumley arrives with gun in hand to take it from them when a lantern from the castle crashes to the ground, startling them all and allowing Martin to disarm Frumley. The deed recovered and safe, the ghost leaves the castle, waving to the pair as it goes.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.